By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, Might 26, 2026
Picture credit score: Robert Prange/Getty
Mercury was menacing and Aryna Sabalenka was scalding in her Roland Garros opener.
World No. 1 Sabalenka broke serve six occasions sweeping Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2 to roll into the Roland Garros second spherical in 75 minutes.
In her first French Open match since bowing to Coco Gauff within the 2025 ultimate, Sabalenka surged out to leads of 4-0 within the first set and 5-0 within the second and by no means trailed.
Launching her hunt for a maiden Roland Garros crown, Sabalenka led 5-4 when she roared by means of six straight video games to grab whole command.
Although she endured sloppy stretches in each units, Sabalenka spent a lot of the match calling the photographs.
The reigning US Open champion cracked 29 winners—20 greater than Bouzas Maneiro—towards 25 unforced errors.
Sabalenka, who has been engaged on shortening factors, received 13 of 18 journeys to web.
“That’s probably the most pleasant a part of the sport proper now, that I’m in a position to come to the online and play factors there,” Sabalenka mentioned. “I’m so glad I’ve improved that a part of the sport and I can convey it on courtroom.
“It’s sizzling. Thanks a lot for staying and don’t neglect to remain hydrated guys, it’s fairly sizzling out right here.”
Sunshine Double champion Sabalenka dealt with the warmth and introduced it as nicely elevating her 2026 document to 28-3, together with a WTA-best 25 straight-sets victories.
Whereas Sabalenka will need to clear up a few of the unforced errors that crept into her sport after constructing massive leads in each units, she closed with command.
Sabalenka transformed her second match level on a Bouzas Maneiro double fault.
The highest-seeded Sabalenka, who has suffered two of her three losses on purple clay this season, will play both 149th-ranked Czech qualifier Linda Fruhvirtova or Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot in spherical two.
After high-stepping into spherical two, Sabalenka descended the Court docket Philippe Chatrier steps dancing within the newest installment of her French Open dance-off vs. Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic, who unveiled his personal steps following his first-round win ending with “Beat that, Aryna” problem.
